Pancreatectomy in 15 year old

[Guest guest]

I don't post much on here, but do sign on from time to time to read

posts.

We traveled to Minnesota a couple of weeks ago and visited with Dr.

Sutherland about a pancreatectomy. My son is so tired of the

pancreatitis and for sure wants the surgery and right now the plan is

to travel back in the spring, unless he can't tollerate the attacks

and then we will go sooner.

I loved Dr. Sutherland and I know that he is the best of the best and

I trust him totally. My son is already a diabetic and also has

cystic fibrosis, so the islet cell transplant is not an option for

him. We still chose Dr. Sutherland because we feel he is the most

experienced with doing pancreatectomies.

One thing Dr. Sutherland said was that there was a possibility that

he could have an injury on the tail of the pancreas maybe from

football and maybe we could get away with a partial. However, he

said there was a possiblity that might not be it and he would have to

have two surgeries if the first one didn't solve the problem. My son

doesn't want to take any chances and has chosen to do the total from

the beginning.

Does anyone have any advice where this is concerned?

I have never been so scared in my life. I can't believe this is

happening to my child. I wish it could have been me instead.